AT&T has been pretty clear from the start that it doesn't like the FCC's new net neutrality rules, since it's taking part in two lawsuits to try and overturn them. But a new article in the Washington Post suggests the telco might be willing to adhere to some parts of the FCC's new rules in order to get regulatory approval of its $49 billion acquisition of DirecTV.
Sources tell the Post that AT&T will agree to "aspects" of the rules, which suggest they'll probably not agree to the most important parts:
quote:
Among the deal's so-called conditions is expected to be something fairly simple. AT&T is prepared to accept aspects of the net neutrality rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission earlier this year, according to people familiar with the negotiations, who declined to be named because the deliberations are private.
Except that AT&T has previously stated they'll refuse any conditions that govern the way they manage and exempt services from
usage caps, any conditions that governs interconnection, and any conditions that hinder its
controversial "zero rating" efforts like Sponsored Data. That leaves AT&T likely only willing to agree to conditions on throttling or outright blocking services and websites, which is something most ISPs had no interest in doing anyway.The Post notes that in addition to playing nice over some parts of neutrality, AT&T will agree to once again offer a standalone broadband service to its customers:
quote:
As part of the DirecTV deal, AT&T is willing to provide an Internet-only product to consumers who don't want to buy a more traditional television bundle, according to two people familiar with the matter. But at what speed, price and for how long has yet to be hammered out, they said.
You might recall that offering a "naked" standalone broadband connection was one of the conditions of the company's acquisition of BellSouth, a condition AT&T skirted around by making the option
hard to find and sign up for. Carriers have since been reverting to forcing DSL users to bundle landlines in many markets, as part of a concerted effort to
drive away DSL users they no longer want anyway.